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This will be the fourth meeting between the two teams. Brampton has won two of three, including 108-103 Saturday in Brampton. In that game the Lightning shot only 40% from the floor and missed 11 free throws. Brampton made 17-of-19 from the charity stripe.

KEY GAMES:

While there is still half the National Basketball League of Canada season to go, games against the A’s and Windsor Express are vital. Even now Lightning coach Micheal Ray Richardson talks about the need to get home-court advantage. The A’s, Express and Lightning look as if they’ll be doing battle for the

No. 1 seed in the Central Conference right to the end.

GOOD TEAM:

Canadian Dane Smith became the latest former Lightning player to suit up for another NBL team, signing with the Saint John Mill Rats. The roster of former Lightning players around in the NBL looks pretty good. Beside Smith there’s three other players on the Mill Rats; Tyrone Levett, Jermaine Blackburn and Raheem Singleton. The Island Storm have Adrian Moss and Jeremy Williams. The Mississauga Power weigh in with Morgan Lewis and Tyler Murray. Adding some attitude and size to the Express is DeAndre Thomas.

A’S FOR BRAMPTON:

Brampton has done a terrific job putting its roster together. The players look as if they enjoy playing for coach David Magley and that makes them a tough opponent. When the A’s and Bolts last met, A’s guards torched the Lightning with Cedric Moodie going off for 33 and Evaldas Zabas hitting for 26. The last thing Richardson said at practice Wednesday was “no way we let those guards score 59 (Thursday.)”

FLYING FREDERICK:

The Lightning’s latest signing, former Montreal Jazz sniper Eric Frederick, has been trying to get into town for three days. He’s living in Oklahoma City but for two days now his flights into Detroit have been cancelled. Frederick played 13 games in the NBL last year, averaging close to 30 points a game along with almost 10 rebounds a game. He played in Mexico for four months and spent the summer in an NBA summer camp. He was the last player cut from a group of individuals forming an NBA travelling team heading to China for exhibition games.

FLASHY NUMBERS:

Lightning forward Garrett Williamson is fourth in league scoring, averaging more than 20 points a game. He’s also second in field-goal percentage. Marvin Phillips is second in rebounding, averaging almost 10 a game.

GET YOUR TICKETS:

If you want to see the Lightning play the A’s on Family Day (Feb. 17), you might want to get tickets early. Lightning general manager Taylor Brown says because of promotions and the fact it’s a 2 p.m. start on a holiday, he expects more than 8,000 fans to attend. That will require the opening of the second level. Brown says the Lightning plan to open the top two more times before the playoffs. The Lightning are averaging around 3,400 fans a game, by far the best attendance in the league.